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- Jun 13, 2006
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MArvel comics can be quite clever - thyis is about publishing not always in their stories, but they hit the News world hard over the last year when the killed CAPTAIN AMERICA. This allowed something to sneak in under the radar that was possibly even bigger, and definately more controversial.
In an industry and a medium that is well known for it's retroactive refitting of characters and situations, they went for the biggest of the big with their flagship character SPIDER-MAN. After a superb run by Babylon 5's JMS, they hit a storyline, called ONE LAST DAY (for those who don't know). Spidey's life is a bit dire, to say the least: After being convinced to reveal his identity to the world by TONY STARK he has gone against registration, but as every one knows who he is, he is hunted by former friend and fow alike.
Because of this the KINGPIN has tried to have PARKER 'hit', only to see AUNT MAY gunned down and left with little chance of recovery, and there is very little that Parker can do - cos if he shows his face then he's going to be arrested, even if he sits by his dying aunt's bedside.
Spidey tries everything, going to all the major characters of the MARVEL universe, but none are able to help, and just when all hope seems lost a mysterious figure offers him and MARY JANE a chance. MEPHISTO (the devil or just about), in return of something from the two of them will restore AUNT MAY to life.
It turns out that he is not after their souls, he is after their love. It seems that the taking of a true love will be a lot more fun for him, because it is a lot more precious and painful.
And they agree, knowing they have the one more day of the title before, at the stroke of midnight it is all taken away.
But what could have been the start of an exceptional story: Imagine Peter and Mary Jane waking up and not being in love, slowly having it all fall away, is instead turned into the biggest refit in history.
At some point in the past Peter turned away from Mary Jane and now the two can hardly stand each other. They never got married. Harry Osborne never died. Pete still lives with Aunt May. His identity is still a secret.
And a character that has developed and grown over the last 30 years is thrown back to where he was in the 1970's, making it seem that all the adventures that have happened, and the work by all the exceptional writers in between never happened.
For me and many fans it has been a massive betrayal. I've not read an issue since, which is a shame, because from what people are saying the stories are superb - but they are stories that could still have been told had they not changed everything so drastically!
Of course there are plenty of things which have been effected and just ignored because it would change to much - just two examples are Norman Osborne, his insanity and hatred are based around the fact that he blames Spidey for the death of his son. Who now isn't dead.
And spidey with the new Avengers. He hooked up with them because he needed protection, wanted by the law and everyone knowing his identity it was the safest bet. But no-one knows who he is now (even if he is still wanted by the law)
Soooo after such a long post - what do people think? The people who read comics, and those who just read this out of a passing interest?
Good idea or bad?
Or is it part of something bigger?
In an industry and a medium that is well known for it's retroactive refitting of characters and situations, they went for the biggest of the big with their flagship character SPIDER-MAN. After a superb run by Babylon 5's JMS, they hit a storyline, called ONE LAST DAY (for those who don't know). Spidey's life is a bit dire, to say the least: After being convinced to reveal his identity to the world by TONY STARK he has gone against registration, but as every one knows who he is, he is hunted by former friend and fow alike.
Because of this the KINGPIN has tried to have PARKER 'hit', only to see AUNT MAY gunned down and left with little chance of recovery, and there is very little that Parker can do - cos if he shows his face then he's going to be arrested, even if he sits by his dying aunt's bedside.
Spidey tries everything, going to all the major characters of the MARVEL universe, but none are able to help, and just when all hope seems lost a mysterious figure offers him and MARY JANE a chance. MEPHISTO (the devil or just about), in return of something from the two of them will restore AUNT MAY to life.
It turns out that he is not after their souls, he is after their love. It seems that the taking of a true love will be a lot more fun for him, because it is a lot more precious and painful.
And they agree, knowing they have the one more day of the title before, at the stroke of midnight it is all taken away.
But what could have been the start of an exceptional story: Imagine Peter and Mary Jane waking up and not being in love, slowly having it all fall away, is instead turned into the biggest refit in history.
At some point in the past Peter turned away from Mary Jane and now the two can hardly stand each other. They never got married. Harry Osborne never died. Pete still lives with Aunt May. His identity is still a secret.
And a character that has developed and grown over the last 30 years is thrown back to where he was in the 1970's, making it seem that all the adventures that have happened, and the work by all the exceptional writers in between never happened.
For me and many fans it has been a massive betrayal. I've not read an issue since, which is a shame, because from what people are saying the stories are superb - but they are stories that could still have been told had they not changed everything so drastically!
Of course there are plenty of things which have been effected and just ignored because it would change to much - just two examples are Norman Osborne, his insanity and hatred are based around the fact that he blames Spidey for the death of his son. Who now isn't dead.
And spidey with the new Avengers. He hooked up with them because he needed protection, wanted by the law and everyone knowing his identity it was the safest bet. But no-one knows who he is now (even if he is still wanted by the law)
Soooo after such a long post - what do people think? The people who read comics, and those who just read this out of a passing interest?
Good idea or bad?
Or is it part of something bigger?
